Lobbying & Public Policy

We represent and advocate for clients before legislative and executive branch decision makers to obtain support for (or defend against) legislative and regulatory proposals. Supported by the firm’s full range of nationally recognized legal services, our attorneys work closely with clients to carefully draft legislation, develop grassroots programs and build coalitions on numerous matters. Both political parties are represented in our lobbying team.

Our Iowa Government Relations and lobbying team of attorneys have considerable prior experience in all three branches of state government, as well as service in county and city government.

Mar22

Anamosa Legislative Forum

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Mar22

Monticello Legislative Forum

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Mar22

Leon Legislative Forum

2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Mar22

Mar23

Rock Rapids Legislative Forum

8:30 AM to 10:00 AM

Mar23

Oskaloosa Coffee & Conversation

8:30 AM to 9:30 AM

Mar23

Camanche Legislative Coffee

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Mar23

Okoboji Legislative Forum

9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

Mar23

Mar23

Logan Legislative Coffee

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Mar23

Bellevue Legislative Forum

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Mar23

Webster City Legislative Forum

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Mar23

DeWitt Legislative Coffee

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Mar29

Marshalltown Listening Post

9:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Mar30

Malvern Legislative Forum

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM

Mar30

Apr05

West Des Moines Listening Post

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Apr06

Ida Grove Coffee & Issues

9:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Apr06

Apr06

Grinnell Legislative Coffee

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Apr06

Onawa Legislative Forum

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Apr06

Apr06

March 15, 2024 REC Summary

The Revenue Estimating Conference (“REC”) met Friday (3.15.24) as part of their standard schedule of meetings to estimate future state revenues. REC members Kraig Paulsen and Jennifer Acton welcomed Jeff Plagge to the panel as the new public representative. A summary of the information discussed during the meeting is below, along with the linked...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week 9

Capitol Update The second funnel deadline is next Friday. We expect to see mostly Committee work next week as bills that have not made it through the Committee in the other Chamber will be considered dead for the session, with exceptions. Even though a bill itself may be considered dead, ideas are not dead and can come back in the form of...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Eight

Capitol Update This week, many bills were debated in either the House or Senate and then passed onto their last stop in the legislative process. Each chamber must vote on the exact same language in order to finally pass the bill and have it become law. The Senate will often substitute a House File and vice versa during floor debate so the language...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Seven

Capitol Update The focus of the legislature this week turned toward Floor Debate. Mostly non-controversial bills were considered. According to Joint House and Senate Rule 20, during week #7 debate is limited to only Senate Files in the Senate and House Files in the House. The next two weeks of debate are not limited by that rule. Budget...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Six

Funnel week. Funnel week has come and gone and it was quite a week with 227 bills moving through Committees and 99 scheduled subcommittees. The purpose of the funnel is to “weed out” those bills that will not be given further consideration this session. The next major procedural deadline - the second funnel - is March 15. For a bill to be...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Five

The pace continued during week 5 with 164 bills scheduled for consideration in Committees and 165 scheduled for subcommittee discussions. Next week is funnel week - which means bills must be considered in a subcommittee and pass the Committee by next Friday. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule. Although based on the large numbers of bills...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Four

Capital Update Big news on Thursday with the Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Senator Dan Dawson and the House Ways and Means Committee Chair Representative Bobby Kaufmann jointly releasing a tax reform package that will consist of two different bills (SSB 3141 and SSB 3142). The Press Release states the following:  “The first bill...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Three

Capitol Update General Assembly Update. The third week of session was hectic with 176 subcommittee meetings scheduled. We expect this pace to continue as the first major funnel is fast approaching. By February 16, all bills must be voted out of the Committee of origin. That means the bill must be filed, subcommittee assigned, passed subcommittee,...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week Two

Capitol Update The second week of session picked up speed following Monday’s caucus events. On Wednesday the first “floor work” for the session was conducted. Both the House and Senate passed resolutions, SR 102 and HR 102, to recognize the term “brain health” as a term that may be used synonymously with the terms mental health, mental illness and...
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Government Relations Legislative Update - Week One

Capitol Update Iowa lawmakers returned to Des Moines on Monday to convene the second legislative session of the 90th General Assembly.  General Assemblies run in two-year cycles.  The second session is the shorter of the two, with the goal of sine die by April 16 this year.  Bills that were declared “dead” in the first session (2023) may be...
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December 13, 2023 REC Summary

The Revenue Estimating Conference (“REC”) comprised of a three-member panel (Kraig Paulsen, David Underwood, and Jennifer Acton) met Wednesday (12.13.23) as part of their standard schedule of meetings to estimate future state revenues. A summary of the information discussed during the meeting is below, along with the linked spreadsheet distributed...
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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE - 10-12-2023

The Revenue Estimating Conference (“REC”), comprised of a three-member panel (Kraig Paulsen, David Underwood, and Jennifer Acton), met Thursday (10/12/23) as part of its standard schedule of meetings to estimate future state revenues. A summary of the information discussed during the meeting is below, along with the linked spreadsheet distributed...
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Government Relations Update - 05-04-2023

The 2023 Iowa Legislature adjourned sine die Thursday afternoon, capping a 116-day session. The final gavel fell at 12:04 PM in the Senate and at 12:33 PM in the House. The final week of session concluded with the passage of a few remaining policy bills, including property tax reform (HF 718). Governor Reynolds plans to sign the property tax...
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2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 16 Summary

The 110th day of the legislative session has come and gone with no adjournment. Conjecture is adjournment “sine die” will likely occur sometime next week. The House has issued a lengthy debate calendar for next Monday May 1 - signaling the House’s intent to finish. The Senate debated each day this week and passed 44 bills. This despite the fact...
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2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 15 Summary

The Senate continued its confirmation of the Governor’s appointees this week. Erik Helland, a lawyer and former Republican state representative, was confirmed as the new Chairperson of the Iowa Utilities Board. Sarah Martz, the engineering director of utilities at Iowa State University was confirmed as a new Iowa Utilities Board member. The IUB...
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2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 14 Summary

This week, the Senate focused on advancing a number of the Governor’s appointees through Committees, including: appointees to the Iowa Autism Council, the Department of Education Director, and appointees to the Iowa Higher Education Loan Authority through the Education Committee; appointees to the Board of Veterinary Medicine Board through the...
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2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 13 Summary

On Monday, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced four budget bills that will eventually establish the state general fund spending for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. The bills that were passed do not yet include specific budget numbers, but those figures will later be amended into the bill. The Senate’s work continued on Tuesday when...
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2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 12 Summary

Friday marked the end of the second legislative funnel week. Bills must have cleared the Chamber of origin and the other Chamber’s Committee by the close of business. Those bills that did not meet this deadline are now considered “dead” through the end of session. The main exceptions to this deadline are bills that deal with taxes, spending, and...
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2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 11 Summary

On Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill to limit the use of mobile devices while driving. Senate File 547 makes the use of mobile devices while driving a car illegal unless used in a hands-free or voice-activated mode. The bill passed the Senate by a 47-3 vote. The bill’s floor manager, Senator Mark Lofgren (R-Muscatine), said the bill will...
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2023 Iowa Legislative Session - Week 10 Summary

A bill proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds that seeks to streamline state government through reorganization was approved by the House on Wednesday and will head to the Governor’s desk for her signature. The bill, which is over 1,500 pages in total, seeks to cut the number of cabinet-level state agencies from 37 to 16 and would eliminate hundreds of...
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SERVICES OFFERED:

Lobbying Services

We represent and advocate for clients before legislative and executive branch decision-makers to obtain support for (or defend against) legislative and regulatory proposals. Supported by BrownWinick’s full range of nationally recognized legal services, we work closely with our clients to carefully draft legislation, develop grassroots programs, and build coalitions on numerous matters. Both political parties are represented in our lobbying team.

Strategy Development

Clients are assisted in developing goals and effective strategies in support of their legislative and regulatory agendas. This includes arranging meetings with key elected officials and policymakers. Assistance is also provided in the development of effective and supportive public relations and media campaigns.

Legislative/Regulatory Drafting

Our team regularly drafts legislation and regulations to address our clients’ needs. BrownWinick assists clients in getting these legislative and regulatory proposals introduced before the appropriate governing body and in shepherding them through the approval process.

Tracking and Evaluation of Legislation

On-site personal attention, as well as the latest computer technology, are both used to monitor legislative trends and developments that likely affect clients and their interests. This work includes legal analysis and reporting on legislation as it moves through the lengthy process of hearings, committee meetings, floor debate, and consideration by the executive branch.

Ethics and Election Laws

Our team regularly works with and counsels clients to ensure compliance with applicable rules, laws, and ethical considerations on lobbying, campaign finance, and corporate political activity.

Political Activities
Practical recommendations are made to clients on the administration and development of political action committees. Such work includes providing proposals for the effective use of campaign contributions. Campaign contribution plans are also developed for clients without political action committees. Finally, we also assist with political campaigns and administer ballot issue campaigns.

Peer Recognition

BrownWinick’s Iowa Government Relations team has been recognized as a leader in the industry. Members of our team have been recognized in the peer evaluation platform, Super Lawyers, which only 5% of attorneys in a state can be recognized in Super Lawyers.

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Lobbying & Public Policy Attorneys